Biswabhusan Harichandan is currently the Governor of Chhattisgarh. He was also the Governor of Andhra Pradesh from 2019 to 2023. He began his career as a High Court lawyer. He joined JP’s ‘Sampoorna Kranti’ movement opposing the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975. A Jan Sangh leader, he was arrested under MISA. After the Emergency when Janata Dal was formed, he opened his innings to the State Assembly in 1977 being elected from the Chilika constituency. Thereafter, he never looked back. He was a Minister with six departments and all these departments were handled by him with a rare dexterity. He was held in high esteem even by his opponents. He has written many books to his credit.

In an interview to The Pioneer, Governor Harichandan spoke to Sugyan Choudhury on many relevant issues of the current times.

You were always with non-Congress political parties. Is it because of your ideological reason or your politics of difference?

I joined Jan Sangh only because of my ideology since I love my motherland. I went through the literature of the party and the spirit of nationalism attracted me. Besides, two senior advocates of Orissa High Court Dayasagar Nanda and Bhupen Basu inspired me to join Jan Sangh. Dayasagar Nanda was president of the State Jan Sangh unit while Bhupen Basu was Sangh Chalak.

You were elected in 1977 for the first time. You were jailed during Emergency. What are your memorable experiences of those days?

You know in those days Mrs Indira Gandhi had lost in election. Everyone expected that she would resign on moral grounds after the Allahabad High Court judgement. But instead, she tried to capture and consolidate all powers in her hand. She started supersession of judges wherein a junior judge, AN Ray, was made Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. At that time JP had started his Sampoorna Kranti or Total Revolution. The intelligentsia of the nation was apprehensive that Indira Gandhi would cause more harm to democracy in the country. Then, the Orissa High Court Bar Association made me chairman of the action committee. It was then decided that under my leadership many meetings and processions were to be held to rouse people’s awareness that a great threat was posed to democracy. About one thousand advocates went in a procession under my leadership with uniforms from high court to Ravenshaw College square, about 5 km. People on either side of the road cheered us throughout. I was secretary of the Odisha chapter of Bharatiya Jan Sangh and played a prominent role in the JP movement. On June 25, 1975, Emergency was clamped. Leaders like Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, Charan Singh, Biju Patnaik were arrested. On July 3, 1975, I was also arrested. Thereafter, Dr Harekrushna Mahtab was also arrested along with almost all other senior leaders of the country. After the Emergency, we emerged from jail. I and Biju Patnaik travelled entire Odisha and were assured of a massive poll mandate. Thereafter, Janata Dal was formed and I was elected from Chilika in 1977.

What is your opinion about debates and discussions going on in State Assemblies?

The quality of debates and discussions in the legislatures has considerably declined. Earlier, the debates were certainly of a high standard. Creating hallagullah in the House, running to the Well and Speaker’s podium has become a common feature these days.

As a Cabinet Minister in Odisha, what were your remarkable contributions?

I was given six portfolios including Revenue and Food & Civil Supplies. I met Chief Minister Nilamani Routray and complained that I should not be given a department like Food & Civil Supplies as many people considered this as the most corrupt department. To my utter surprise, the CM said I was given the department by the dictates of Biju Patnaik, who said ‘only Biswabhusan will handle this department’. Besides, PSP leader Biswanath Pandit came to me and said he had requested Bijubabu and CM Routray to give me the Labour Department, wherein I could do justice to the labourers. Pradyumna Bal also requested me to accept the Department of Law as I was a senior High Court lawyer. This way, I had six departments. When I met Bijubabu and narrated him that I had to struggle all the while with the problems of these departments, he opined, “This is a challenge to you”. I immediately replied, “Then, I must accept the challenge.” Thereafter, I accepted these departments. I was again entrusted with the Department of Culture at the behest of Bijubabu with a view to inculcating patriotism and nationalism through cultural affairs activities as an antidote to the Emergency era.

You have performed as the Governor of two States. Can you compare the developments of Odisha with the two other States?

You know I was the Governor of Andhra Pradesh. All of us know how AP is developed. Similar is the case of Chhattisgarh. They are our bordering States and I should not make any comments comparing and contrasting the developments of these States with Odisha for it may create misunderstanding. Please don’t ask me such a question.

From a legislator to a Minister and then to a Governor, where from you derived your optimum satisfaction?

I have received optimum satisfaction by remaining with the people and by serving their causes throughout in all walks of my life. As a Minister of Revenue, my doors were open and I had ordered a 24-hour-open control room, wherein everyone had the right to telephone me even at midnight.

What is your considered opinion regarding the opening of doors of the Lord Jagannath?

I have written an article recently, wherein I have given my viewpoints. People from all over the world want to see Lord Jagannath and not the Parikrama Project. Therefore, I have advised the Government of Odisha to open the three other doors while carrying on their Parikrama activities on one side.